Ink distributing device



Sept, 9 L. B. CASE INK DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Fil'ed Sept. 25, 1959 ATTORNEYS Patented 9, 1941' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INK DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Lynn B. Case, New Brunswick, N. .L, assignor to John Waldron Corporation, New Brunswick, N. .L, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 2.3,1939, Serial No. 296,178

(Cl. iii-67.8)

4 Claims.

- ably arranged rolls of hollow construction. The

use of hot melt ink in an ink distributor having hollow rolls requires provision for maintaining the surfaces of the rolls at substantially uniform temperature lengthwise thereof in order to obtain uniform printing laterally of the web to be printed. I

An object of this invention is to provide the hollow rolls of an ink distributor with heating equipment effective to maintain the surface of following specification and accompanying draw- 2 ing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an ink distributor, the

rolls of which are equipped with heating means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the ink distributor rolls and the liquid circulating system, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofone form of roll.

Figil illustrates atypical ink distribution device having a plurality of different size hollow rolls R rotatably supported in a frame F and provided with gears G for effecting the rotation of the rolls in timed relation. A driving motor M supplies power through a chain drive to one of the rolls at substantially uniform temperature lengthwise thereof.

According to the invention, means are provided for circulating a large volume of hot liquid through such rolls at'a high rate to furnish to each roll an evenly distributed mass of heat sufficient to maintain substantially uniform temperature at the. surface of the roll lengthwise thereof. In order to maintain surface temperature up to a temperature not materially in excess. of the boiling temperature of water, this invention contemplates-the use of hot water forsupplyin the required heat, it being understood that when temperatures somewhat in excess of 212 F. are desired, hot water under suitable pressure is used. In the event that a surface temperature materially in excess of 212 F. is desired, other liquids than water will be used rather than operate the apparatus with water under the pressure which would be required to maintain it in liquid form at such temperature. Preferably, the liquid used will have a vaporization temperature higher than the temperature desired at the periphery of the roll, although as in the case of water a somewhat higher temperature of the liquid may be obtained by subjecting the liquid to pressure. Each roll is maintained full of hot liquid and the hot liquid is supplied to the roll at' the quality of the printing at different points laterally of the web being printed.

of this invention -'will become apparent from the the roll shafts. An ink fountain K is supported by the frame with one roll dipping into it and a roll R co-operates with the fountain roll and one of the remaining rolls for transferring ink from the former to the latter, from which the ink is distributed over the remaining rolls in the well-known manner. A plate or printing cylinder (not shown) is supplied with ink by certain of the rollers R. For such an ink distributor to be used in connection with hot melt inks, provithe roll surface in sufficient quantity to maintain such surface at the desired temperature and is also supplied to the ink fountain to liquefy the ink. In some instances, the water is supplied to and discharged from the same end of the roll while in other instances, it is supplied to one end liquid is heated in the tank T by means (not "Other objects, novel features and advantages of the roll and is discharged from the other end. In still other instances, heat is supplied to a body of liquid retained in the roll without circulation.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 9. body of shown), and is supplied bya pump (not shown) through the pipe P to a header H. From the header H, pipes If), H, I2, i3, i4, l5, l6 and H lead to seven different rollers and to a compartment in the ink fountain. Pipes I8, i9,- 20, 2|, 22 23, 24 and 25 lead from-the various rolls to the header H which communicatesthrough the pipe P with the tank T. Each of the pipesis. connected to a roll through a coupling C rotatably connected to the roll shaft and of proper arrangement for establishing communication betw'en the pipe and a bore in the shaft. Such a. coupling is a standard article of merchandise and is notdescribed here in detail as the particular construetion of such coupling forms nopart of this inlike.

vention. In some instances, a coupling C is supplied at each end of the roll so that'the liquid enters one end of the roll and leaves the roll at the other end, while in other instances, a somewhat different coupling is supplied only at one end of the roll so that the liquid both enters and leaves the roll at the same end.

In Fig. 3, the roll "R is supported by a hollow shaft 21 journalled in the frame F. A hollow rod.28 extends from the coupling C through the shaft 21 to the end of the roller opposite the coupling C. This'rod is connected by the coupling C to the input pipe and is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 through which liquid is discharged from the interior of the rod 28 into the space between the rod 28 and the inner face of the shaft 21. Abutments 38 and 3| are provided on the rod 28, the abutment 38 being at approximately the right end of the roll R and the abutment 3| being slightly spaced fromthe left end of the roll R. Apertures 28 are arranged between the two abutments and 3| which to conduct liquid into the chamber provided by I the shaft 21 and the interior surface of the roll R. Also, the shaft 21 is provided withapertures 33 arranged between the abutment 3| and the left end of the roll R. The space to the left of the abutment 3| between the rod 28 and the shaft 21 communicates through the coupling C with the liquid return pipe.

Hot liquid is supplied through the pipe 28 an is discharged at uniform intervals through the apertures 29 into the chamber defined by the rod 28 and shaft 21 in combination with the abutments 30 and 3|. From this chamber, the hot liquid is delivered into the space exterior of the shaft 21 through the apertures 32 and is distributed substantially uniformly over the length of.

the roll R. The liquid escapes from the roll through the apertures 33 and flows around the rod 28 to the coupling C. Because of the uniform supply distribution, the temperature of the surface of the roll R is maintained substantially uniform throughout its length.

In the operation of the above-described apparatus, each of the rolls R is kept full of hot liquid so that heat is suppliedto the roll uniformly over the entire surface thereof with the result is maintained that the temperature differential between ends of a roll is too slight to have any noticeable effect upon the quality of the printing effected by a printing cylinder supplied with ink from such roll.

While the invention has been specifically disclosed in connection with an ink distribution system, it is apparent that the invention is equally applicable to any apparatus or device embodying a hollow roll, the surface of which it is desired to maintain at uniform temperature. Also, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure above described, without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as-deflned in the appended claims.

I claim: I

. 1. In an ink'distributor for hot melt ink, a hollow roll, a hollow shaft for said roll, a tubetube.

2. In an ink distributor for hot melt ink, a hollow roll, a hollow shaft for said roll, a tube in said shaft, means sealing said shaft and tube at approximately one end of said roll, means sealing said shaft around said tube in spaced I relation to the opposite end of said roll, aperall diameter than the interior diameter of .said

that the exterior peripheral surface of theroll is a maintained at substantially uniform temperature. Any air that may be initially trapped in a roll is gradually worked out of the roll at its ends and is vented from the system, complete removal of the air being effected after a short period of operation. In the apparatus of Fig. 1, the head of liquid required to maintain the rolls full of liquid and to maintain 'the liquid under superatmospheric pressure if a temperature in excess of 212 F. is desired, is provided by. connecting the tank T through the pipe S to any suitable source of liquid under pressure. Where water is the liquid used the connection may be to a water supply system, stand pipe, pressure tank or the The circulation of the liquid through the rolls is so regulated as to supply a sufficient mass of heat to maintain the roll at the desired temperature and a sufficiently high circulation rate shaft, means sealing said shaft and tube at approximately one end of said roll, means sealing said shaft around said tube in spaced relation to the opposite end of said roll, apertures in said tube wall and shaft wall between said sealing means and in said shaft wall adjacent the last-named-end of the roll, and means for supplying liquid to the open end of said tube.

4. A device of the character described comprising a hollow roll, a hollow shaft for said roll, a tube in said shaft,said tube being of less overall diameter than the interior diameter of.

LYNN B. CASE. 

